Independent Television News Limited Registered Number 548648 2013 ANNUAL REPORT
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2013 ANNUAL REPORT Independent Television News Limited Registered Number 548648 2013 ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS The Headlines Page 3 Our Business Page 6 Our People Page 16 Chief Executive’s Review Page 22 Chairman’s Statement Page 26 Strategic Report Page 28 Directors’ Report Page 32 Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities Page 34 Independent Auditor’s Report Page 35 Accounts Page 37 2 THE HEADLINES 3 THE HEADLINES 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2012 2013 £5.0m £3.7m £3.7m £5.0m £2.3m 3.4% 4.7% £0.9m £2.9m £7.9m swing in operating profit* Operating profit margin* rises ITN’s annual operating profit* rises to £5m in ITN’s operating profit margin* increased from 2013, a £7.9m upwards swing since 2009. 3.4% to 4.7%. * Operating profit on ordinary activities before exceptional * Operating profit margin before exceptional items items ITN sweeps the board ITN Productions growth continues ITN won 43 significant industry awards across ITN Productions continued to grow, producing its divisions in 2013, including prestigious hon- 134 broadcast hours, including seven new series ours from the Royal Television Society and the and 23 advertising campaigns. Foreign Press Association. 4 THE HEADLINES ITV News gets a new look Channel 5 News revamps 6.30pm programme ITV News launched a new look studio and branding as part of ITV’s brand refresh. Channel 5 News launched NewsTalk Live, the UK’s only daily primetime current affairs debate show. Channel 4 News wins an Emmy ITN Source secures Qatar deal Channel 4 News took home the coveted ITN Source won a multi-million pound licensing International Emmy Award as well as being contract with the Qatar Foundation. named Royal Television Society Programme of the Year for the second year running. 5 “ITV News always puts people Day in day out, ITV News delivers the Etchingham on News at Ten, from a at the heart of every story; big exclusives, distinctive reporting state-of-the-art Chroma key virtual informing the public, chal- and in-depth analysis from a team of reality studio at Gray’s Inn Road. Un- lenging decision-makers and expert journalists, to eight million der the leadership of Editor Geoff Hill, generating debate through viewers around the UK. each programme is bolstered with our award-winning journal- ITV News’ range of specialists includ- ism. Operating to the very ITN has made news bulletins for ing Rageh Omaar, Tom Bradby, Lucy highest standards, our team ITV since its inception in 1955, first Manning, Penny Marshall, James of expert correspondents and as ITN News and from 1999, as ITV Mates, Richard Edgar, John Irvine presenters consistently push News. Every day of the year, ITV News and Lawrence McGinty. International boundaries to produce quality airs national news programmes at bureaux in Johannesburg, Tel Aviv, reports and exclusive con- 1.30pm, 6.30pm and ITV News at Ten, Washington, Brussels, Dubai, Beijing tent on a broad range of news informing public opinion and generat- and Rio De Janeiro ensure that cover- stories, both within the UK and ing debate through news exclusives, age of news at home is reinforced by across the globe.” investigative journalism and unique, extensive first-hand reporting around accessible reporting on the latest the world. news agenda. The award-winning regional offer- Daily news bulletins are presented by ing, ITV News London, is also pro- Geoff Hill Alastair Stewart and Mary Nightingale duced in the newsroom, providing at 6.30pm and Mark Austin and Julie a ground-breaking regional news Editor 6 ITV News launched a brand new look in January 2013 operation that continues to innovate and a number of one-off documen- awards along the way, including the to be the authoritative news outlet for taries and live special programmes Broadcast Digital award and an On- the Capital. Looking to longer-form for ITV. ITV News presenters and line Media award. Users can access coverage, ITV News is responsible for correspondents played a crucial role a live stream of news, multimedia ITN-produced Tonight documentaries, in ITV’s critically acclaimed special stories, video clips, original content the recently announced On Assign- live coverage of the Royal Wedding, and blogs from ITV News’ top team of ment monthly current affairs strand Diamond Jubilee and the most recent specialist journalists. US Election. Together, the team have won numer- ous awards for their outstanding jour- nalism in recent years including three consecutive BAFTAs, an International Emmy, numerous Royal Television Society Journalism awards and for coverage of humanitarian issues, the prestigious Amnesty International and One World Media awards. In the words of one RTS judge, “ITV News is the programme which consistently gets Britain right”. Innovative, speedy and using the very latest in cutting-edge livestream technology, itv.com/news is the digital news hub for ITV News viewers. Since launch two years ago, it has steadily broken stories ahead of the com- petition and won a spate of industry ITV News political editor Tom Bradby Africa correspondent Rohit Kachroo reporting on illegal elephant poaching in Tanzania 7 Jackie Long joined the presenting line-up “Channel 4 News continues to Channel 4 News is committed to higher proportion of viewers aged 16- push new boundaries deliv- challenging expectations with sto- 34 than any other terrestrial evening ering clarity, robustness and ries that reveal and inspire, innova- news programme. powerful storytelling from tively produced - with just a touch of Led by Editor Ben de Pear, Chan- our team of award-winning mischief. nel 4 News’ award-winning team specialists who hold people to of journalists scrutinise the day’s account and make compelling Made by ITN since its launch in 1982, domestic and foreign stories. The television.” Channel 4 News’ hour-long bulletin daily programme is presented by Jon is on at 7pm every week-night, with Snow, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Cathy shorter programmes at varying times Newman, Matt Frei and Jackie Long, over the weekend. With an audi- with analysis provided by a roster ence of over 20 million viewers each of experts including Alex Thomson, Ben de Pear month, Channel 4 News also has a Lindsey Hilsum, Kylie Morris, Faisal Editor 8 The Governor Jon Snow meets Bank of England boss Mark Carney Islam, Paul Mason, Victoria Macdon- Live analysis on key events is provid- in the modern age. ald, Michael Crick, and Gary Gibbon. ed through live blogs, special reports Cathy Newman’s FactCheck seeks Channel 4 News is produced in a on the UK’s and the world’s most sig- the truth behind claims made by custom built studio in ITN’s Gray’s Inn nificant news, all supported by blogs those in public office. FactCheck has Road headquarters. The programme from key editors and correspond- been commended for its statistical is a consistent critical success, re- ents. During 2013 Channel 4 News integrity and is frequently cited in the cently described by one broadsheet launched #DataBaby, an innovative House of Commons. Jon Snow’s daily journalist as “the must-see show for multimedia special report examining Snowblog tackles everything from opinion formers.” the huge online footprint we all leave global crises to events he encoun- Since its launch, the programme ters on his morning cycle. The long has been regularly awarded by the running SnowMail email round-up is Royal Television Society, BAFTA, Jon Snow’s unique take on the day’s Broadcast, Amnesty International and news, delivered directly to the in-box- One World Media for its home news es of viewers. Channel 4 News won stories, extensive foreign coverage all five of the top awards at 2013’s and team of experienced journalists. Online Media Awards, including best In 2013 Channel 4 News was awarded website and outstanding digital team the prestigious International Emmy of the year. Award and an unprecedented eight No news programme in the UK Royal Television Society awards, commissions more independent including Programme of the Year and filmmakers than Channel 4 News. In presenter of the year for Jon Snow. line with Channel 4’s commitment to Depth and attitude is the mantra for supporting the independent sector, Channel 4 News online. Channel both lone film-makers and larger 4.com/news is the home of the day’s production companies have an op- most important news, bolstered and portunity to showcase their work on enhanced by specialist insight and the evening bulletin and at Channel 4 expert commentary. News Online. Channel 4 News International Editor, Lindsey Hilsum 9 “Channel 5 News is produced Channel 5 News has broken the NewsTalk Live, a debate-focused by a passionate, talented and mould of television news ever since news programme where expert enthusiastic team, and that it was launched by ITN in 1997. guests and news-makers discuss shines through on-screen. the most talked about stories of the Not afraid to lead on different Making headlines for a new style day. Both programmes are presented stories to other news pro- of informative news, Channel 5 by Emma Crosby supported by on- grammes, we are in-tune with News challenged the status quo screen talent including highly-expe- our viewers and proud to be a upon launch and continues to be a rienced Political Editor Andy Bell and distinctive but totally credible key part of the TV news landscape Chief Correspondent Tessa Chapman. news service.” 17 years later. Led by Editor Cris- ITN produced Channel 5 News from tina Nicolotti Squires, the Channel 1997 until 2005, and took up pro- 5 News team produces distinctive duction of the service again in 2012. news programmes every weekday at Since then ITN has built a new state- Cristina Nicolotti Squires 5pm and 6.30pm.